Disney's Star Wars Rebels is already a massive hit, even though nothing but the pilot has aired so far. Lucasfilm Animation has done a terrific job of creating interesting new characters that fit perfectly in the Empire-versus-Rebellion era. The leader of this crew of heroic misfits is one Kanan Jarrus, voiced by Freddie Prinze, Jr.
Kanan, you see, was once a Padawan on his way to becoming a Jedi. But we all know how that ended (in Revenge of the Sith) -- thanks to the machinations of the Emperor, the Jedi were wiped out when he issued the infamous Order 66. Kanan obviously survived the Jedi purge, and Rebels revealed that he's managed to survive this long by putting away his lightsaber and knowledge of the Force and taking up a blaster instead to become a smuggler.
The events of Star Wars Rebels force Kanan to pick up his lightsaber once more, which of course is where things get interesting. The show's producers have referred to Kanan as a "cowboy Jedi," since he has the potential to become a full-fledged Jedi Knight, but his training was never finished and it's been a while since he practiced his skills, so he's more rough around the edges and less disciplined than the average Jedi.
In another example of how Disney's Lucasfilm Story Group is keeping everything in canon, a new ongoing comic book from Marvel was announced at New York Comic-Con 2014: Star Wars: Kanan. As the title suggests, it centers on Kanan Jarrus, filling in the 14 years between the time Order 66 was issued and he became leader of the Ghost's crew.
Rebels executive producer Greg Weisman is penning the first story arc, "The Last Padawan," which shows how Kanan escaped Order 66 and went on the run with his Jedi Master, Depa Billaba. Pepe Larraz will handle the artwork.
A recently released novel by John Jackson Miller titled Star Wars: A New Dawn fills in another piece of Kanan's backstory. It details how Kanan and Rebels' pilot Hera Syndulla first met and became partners-in-crime against the Empire.
Star Wars: Kanan launches in April 2015.
